Community Chat

[JaneMarple]

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@YorkieonmyPillow wrote:

We aren't supposed to make political posts on this board, this thread shouldn't be allowed to remain because the article mentioned is a political attack.

It's sneaky and dishonest.

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Sneaky and dishonest because your post was poofed? You copied and pasted a quote from the article which was clearly political and now you're having a tantrum over it? We can all read for ourselves and answer this thread WITHOUT adding politics to it. You are the one who who is trying to get this thread poofed, I hope Beth notices this!

[tansy]

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@YorkieonmyPillow wrote:

We aren't supposed to make political posts on this board, this thread shouldn't be allowed to remain because the article mentioned is a political attack.

It's sneaky and dishonest.

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I disagree.  It's an interesting article about internet  behavior and trolls.  

[QVCkitty1]

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@YorkieonmyPillow wrote:

We aren't supposed to make political posts on this board, this thread shouldn't be allowed to remain because the article mentioned is a political attack.

It's sneaky and dishonest.

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No one is responsible for what you do or do not choose to read, there is nothing political in my post.

[GATORGIRL]

[JaneMarple]

@QVCkitty1 I forgot to say thank you for the thread, I liked the article very much.

[YorkieonmyPillow]

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@JaneMarple wrote:

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@YorkieonmyPillow wrote:

We aren't supposed to make political posts on this board, this thread shouldn't be allowed to remain because the article mentioned is a political attack.

It's sneaky and dishonest.

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*********************************************************************

Sneaky and dishonest because your post was poofed? You copied and pasted a quote from the article which was clearly political and now you're having a tantrum over it? We can all read for ourselves and answer this thread WITHOUT adding politics to it. You are the one who who is trying to get this thread poofed, I hope Beth notices this!

Glad you admit it's purely political.

Carry on.

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[JaneMarple]

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@YorkieonmyPillow wrote:

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@JaneMarple wrote:

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@YorkieonmyPillow wrote:

We aren't supposed to make political posts on this board, this thread shouldn't be allowed to remain because the article mentioned is a political attack.

It's sneaky and dishonest.

---

*********************************************************************

Sneaky and dishonest because your post was poofed? You copied and pasted a quote from the article which was clearly political and now you're having a tantrum over it? We can all read for ourselves and answer this thread WITHOUT adding politics to it. You are the one who who is trying to get this thread poofed, I hope Beth notices this!

Glad you admit it's purely political.

Carry on.

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You're playing games! You copied a sentence which DOES NOT MAKE THE ENTIRE ARTICLE POLITICAL!

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[chickenbutt]

I haven't read this article, but I have had the experience of reading either an article or an opinion-piece online and scrolling down to see the comments.  Holy heck!   Some of the stuf people say is positively horrific.  It's not just one or two here or there, either.

So, as to the original premise, I can totally see that more and more people are just using the internet to be hateful, bullies, and just generall mean and ignorant.   

If you don't want to see any of that, I would definitely advise to never scroll down below a written piece to the 'comments' section!

[YorkieonmyPillow]

I know there are a lot of crazy people online, I do agree with that.

But most of the people I've met online are nice, I even met my husband there.

I'm sure we should all get off the internet and rely on the totally unbiased major TV networks for our news! LOL

[dooBdoo]

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@IamMrsG wrote:

Thank you @QVCkitty1 and @GATORGIRL for A.) creating the post and B.) supplying the link to the article. I read it, and found it interesting and enlightening. The two take-aways for me are:

1. “They’re turning the web into a cesspool of aggression and violence. What watching them is doing to the rest of us may be even worse”
2. “I feel worse after using Twitter QVC's Forums … my brain gets polluted here.”

So many times, after spending time in these forums, I have come away feeling empty. I’ve even discussed with my husband how depressing it can be here. I’ve said to him, “If this is a true cross-section of middle class America’s thinking and behavior, we’re doomed. We are Ugly Americans.”

Some time ago I wrote the following with the fully intention of posting. I decided to withhold it for fear of creating more turmoil. You see, I am familiar enough here to be able to anticipate who will likely say what. Some may not realize it, but repetition is rampant among us. 

Today it seems appropriate and maybe less risky in light of what we've just read from Joel Stein, to dust off and share, so here is the piece I held back:

I’m prepared to be blasted for the nerves I am about to step on. So be it, as I fully believe this purpose is worth standing up for, even if alone.

@Here is my truth: I am sick ‘n tired of what has ever-so correctly been called “deliberate pissiness” (love that, @Moonchilde!) in these forums. Before anyone runs with it, let me assert categorically that I am neither assuming–nor applying for–the role of forum police or room monitor. 

Can posting snide comments about issues being too small, of having more important concerns, admonishing someone to “get a life,” name calling, etc., possibly accomplish anything beyond making oneself look like an arrogant ass? Am I the only one who sees this as a form of bullying? I earnestly asked in another thread, “If the issue is too small to consider, why is it big enough to post a snarky comment about?” Of course the question went unanswered, but as you might guess, was manipulated / twisted to sling more mud.

Rather than point fingers, accuse or (ahem) attack, the sole intent here is to get us to think. Think about what we’re putting out into the world. Even on a small scale, what right minded person among us would deliberately contribute to making the world worse? Honest-to-Goodness, People, I am asking we think about what we’re sending out. And if you really don’t care about that, then can you at least consider how you want to represent yourself?

Thank you for staying with me if you have reached this point.

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          I think your post is excellent and throught-provoking, @IamMrsG.   I have my own "answers" to some of the questions you pose.  

--  Self-awareness and insight into our own actions is rare and it's much easier to blame "the other guy" instead of looking to ourselves for improvement and change.  (This is a general statement, and not directed at you, @IamMrsG.)

--  It appears that some get a weird rush from snarky (or even hateful) posts, and also seem to feel triumphant when they hurt others or bring down a thread on a forum.

--  There always are a few who praise and congratulate posters who are "brutally honest" or "tell it like it is."  They're rewarded and encouraged by others who applaud them, so why should they change?   Frankly, I think they get more delight from brutality and not so much from honesty.    And it's far easier, and not really clever, to take cheap shots.  

--  If we would ignore those who are so repeatedly disruptive, they wouldn't get their "jollies," they wouldn't get the reaction they want.    Don't acknowledge their posts, take away their oxygen, and the fun goes away for them.   

          I think most of us genuinely want to be heard and don't want to create upset or cause harm, but the fact remains that a minority will always continue to show up on the internet and will always find hate-sites on which to post or ways to slip under the radar on moderated forums.    I know I make a lot of mistakes, and often wish I could express myself better...   we all need to hold up a mirror and take a careful, deliberate, honest look, in my opinion.   I apologize if I stepped on nerves, also, and I just wanted to express my frustration.

          Thanks for letting us know about the article, @QVCkitty1, and thanks for the link, @GATORGIRL.